Adding empty string to selectList as SelectedValue

Question

I'm populating DropdownList with data retrieved from database. I want to add default empty string. I'm trying with SelectedValue property with no effects. I tried already null and string.empty like in sample below

ViewBag.Project = new SelectList(unitOfWork.projectRepository.Get(), "ProjectName", "ProjectName",string.Empty);

DropDownList declaration in View

    @Html.DropDownList("Project", null, new { @class="form-control"})

which translates into:

<select class="form-control" id="Project" name="Project">
    <option value="Sample project">Sample project</option>
    <option value="Second project">Second project</option>
</select>

By there is no option with String.Empty.

What should I change in my code

As @Alexander suggested I converted it with ToList and now this is my code:

var items = unitOfWork.projectRepository.Get();
items=items.ToList<Project>().Insert(0, new Project { ProjectId = 1, ProjectName = "" });
ViewBag.Project = new SelectList(items, "ProjectName", "ProjectName",string.Empty);

but this throws exception:Error Cannot implicitly convert type 'void' to 'System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable<magazyn.Models.Project>

possible duplicate of MVC - Clear default selected value of SelectList — Andrei
– Andrei, Commented Mar 4, 2014 at 12:19
In the amendment, break your second line of code into two; you're trying to assign the result of Insert() to items - Insert() doesn't return a value (is void). Do the ToList on the same line as the Get to change the type of items at declaration — Dave
– Dave, Commented Mar 4, 2014 at 12:34

ruffin · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-17 14:35:52Z

5

SelectList contains no overloads that accept an empty default option. You can add it to your items collection manually:

var items = unitOfWork.projectRepository.Get();
items.Insert(0, new Item {ProjectId = null, ProjectName == "", });

ViewBag.Project = new SelectList(items, "ProjectName", "ProjectName",string.Empty);

Update

About the additional convert exception: You are trying to assign the result of the Insert function to a List. Use this code:

var items = unitOfWork.projectRepository.Get().ToList();
items.Insert(0, new Project { ProjectId = 1, ProjectName = "" });

edited Aug 17, 2015 at 14:35

ruffin

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answered Mar 4, 2014 at 12:16

alexmac

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2 Comments

szpic Over a year ago

Look promising. Now I only need to find how to insert something into my IEnumerable items collection

alexmac Over a year ago

Just convert it ToList, and call Insert.

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